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LSC BOARD OF DIRECTORS SWORN IN AT SUPREME COURT EVENT

• Matthew Keenan, a partner at Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP based in Kansas City. He previously served as chair of the firm's Pro Bono Committee for eight years and on the board of Legal Aid of Western Missouri. He was a columnist for the Kansas City Star for seventeen years. 
   
• Abigail Lawlis Kuzma, co-founder and former Executive Director of the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic in Indianapolis and former Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Indiana Attorney General. Since 2017, she has served as a member of LSC’s Governance and Performance Review Committee and of the Delivery of Legal Services Committee. She is the Halbrook Distinguished Chair of American Government at Taylor University, where she teaches constitutional law.
   
• John G. Malcolm, Vice President of the Institute for Constitutional Government and Director and Senior Legal Fellow of the Meese Center for Legal & Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. He previously served as General Counsel for the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom and as Executive Vice President of Worldwide Anti-Piracy Operations for the Motion Picture Association of America.
   
• Frank X. Neuner, Jr., a partner at NeunerPate based in Lafayette, Louisiana. He is a past Chair of the Louisiana Public Defender Board and a past President of the Louisiana State Bar Association. Since 2018, he has served as a member of LSC’s Governance and Performance Review Committee. 

All the continuing members have served since 2010, except Laurie Mikva, who has served since 2009. These members are:

Robert J. Grey, Jr. President of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity based in Richmond, Virginia and retired Senior Counsel at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP.

John G. Levi, LSC’s current Chair of the Board and a partner at Sidley Austin LLP based in Chicago. He has been Chair since April 2010.

Victor Maddox, a partner in the Louisville, Kentucky law firm of Fultz Maddox Dickens PLC.

Laurie Mikva, a Clinical Assistant Professor of Law at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and Commissioner on the Illinois Court of Claims.

Father Pius Pietrzyk, O.P., Chair of the Department of Pastoral Studies and Assistant Professor of Canon Law at St. Patrick Seminary in Menlo Park, California.

Julie Reiskin, Executive Director of the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition in Denver.

Gloria Valencia-Weber, Professor of Law Emerita at the University of New Mexico Law School in Albuquerque.

LSC DISASTER TASK FORCE RELEASES REPORT AT
CAPITOL HILL EVENT 

Experts on post-disaster legal issues took part in a panel on how legal services providers can best prepare for and respond to disasters. The panelists included Paul Furrh, Chief Executive Officer, Lone Star Legal Aid; George Hausen, Executive Director, Legal Aid of North Carolina; Ellyn Josef, Pro Bono Counsel, Vinson & Elkins LLP; and Will Polk, Deputy General Counsel, North Carolina Department of Public Safety. LSC President Jim Sandman moderated the panel.

Following that discussion, Michael Byrne, Specialist Executive at Deloitte and former Senior Executive with Federal Emergency Management Agency, shared insights into the importance of disaster preparedness.

The report organizes its recommendations into four groups: building relationships and providing coordinated legal services to disaster survivors; training pro bono lawyers and legal services providers before a disaster strikes; ensuring continuity of operations planning for courts and legal services providers; and preparing individuals, families, and communities for disasters.

Among the report’s most significant findings was the need for legal services organizations to have a seat at the table during disaster preparation planning discussions. The report also stresses the need for greater preparedness on every level, including the courts and legal aid organizations who cannot provide legal services if they are not operational themselves. It encourages organizations to maintain comprehensive, up-to-date disaster plans and urges states to adopt court model reforms to facilitate post-disaster recovery. 

LSC ANNOUNCES PRO BONO INNOVATION FUND AND TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE FUND GRANTS 

Many of the projects seek to remove barriers to success facing low-income Americans. For example, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas will use its grant to expand its Driver’s License Restoration Project. Losing a license can result in job loss and create a cycle of escalating debt. Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas will enlist pro bono attorneys to assist low-income clients working to restore their driver’s licenses.

Several of the funded PBIF projects will focus on increasing the recruitment and training of pro bono attorneys. Other initiatives will foster community partnerships to better meet the needs of legal aid clients. For example, Maryland Legal Aid will use its grant to create weekly legal advice and intake clinics located in Baltimore schools. Community Legal Aid Services in Ohio will partner with its local bar association and the judiciary to launch a pro bono clinic.

RURAL SUMMER LEGAL CORPS HOST SITE APPLICATIONS

INNOVATIONS IN TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

THE BEST OF BEST PRACTICES

NEWS FROM THE FIELD

FATHER PIUS PIETRZYK ELECTED NEW LSC VICE CHAIR

Father Pius was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 2008, after having entered the novitiate for the Dominican Province of St. Joseph in 2002.? Prior to entering the Dominican Order, he worked for three years in the corporate and securities practice of Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago.? ?He ?obtained his? ??law degree from the University of Chicago and holds a Doctoral Degree in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Rome).

He succeeds Professor Martha Minow, former Dean of Harvard Law School and Harvard University's current 300th Anniversary University Professor.

LSC HOLDS ACCESS TO JUSTICE FORUM IN SALT LAKE CITY

REPS. DEUTCH AND DINGELL JOIN MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE BRIDGET MARY MCCORMACK AND LSC IN ANN ARBOR FOR ACCESS TO JUSTICE EVENTS

A second panel, “How Expungements Affect Employment,” focused on the ways expungement can expand career and educational opportunities for eligible persons. The panelists included legal services leaders and Judge Michelle M. Rick, Chief Judge Pro Tem of the 29th Circuit Court of Michigan. LSC Vice President and General Counsel Ronald Flagg served as moderator. LSC Vice Chair Father Pius Pietrzyk provided closing remarks at the forum.

Representative Debbie Dingell (MI-12) spoke at a luncheon later that day sponsored by the Michigan Bar Foundation and Michigan Advocacy Program. She stated that “access to justice is essential if we are to have due process in this country, and there are just too many barriers that remain.” Rep. Dingell is one of four co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Access to Civil Legal Aid Services Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The following day, LSC Board Chair John G. Levi and LSC President Jim Sandman were among those recognized by Michigan Athletics prior to the Notre Dame v. Michigan football game. University of Michigan Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh is a member of LSC’s Leaders Council, which works to raise public awareness of the current crisis in legal aid.

Levi and Sandman were joined on the field along with members of LSC’s Board of Directors, including Robert J. Grey Jr., Matthew Keenan, Abigail Lawlis Kuzma, Victor B. Maddox, John G. Malcolm, Laurie Mikva, and LSC Vice Chair Father Pius Pietrzyk. Jon Laramore, Executive Director of Indiana Legal Services, and Ann Routt, Executive Director of Michigan Advocacy Program, were also recognized. 

NEWS FROM THE FIELD

LSC PRESIDENT JIM SANDMAN STEPPING DOWN

LSC RECEIVES $25 MILLION FUNDING BOOST

LSC AWARDS MORE THAN $14 MILLION IN DISASTER AID GRANTS

The grants fund projects that marshal additional legal aid lawyers to assist disaster providers, mobilize pro bono attorneys, and integrate legal aid into other disaster services. The funded projects are:

ALASKA
Alaska Legal Services Corporation ($279,252) 

ARKANSAS
Center for Arkansas Legal Services ($500,000)

CALIFORNIA 
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County ($450,000)

FLORIDA
Legal Services of North Florida ($3,000,000)

IOWA
Iowa Legal Aid ($1,000,000)

MICRONESIA 
Micronesian Legal Services, Inc. ($1,200,000)

NEBRASKA 
Legal Aid of Nebraska ($1,250,000)

NORTH CAROLINA 
Legal Aid of North Carolina ($4,836,024)

OHIO 
Legal Aid of Western Ohio ($350,000) 

OKLAHOMA
Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma ($650,000)

Oklahoma Indian Legal Services ($234,724)

TEXAS
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid ($500,000)

LSC HOLDS VETERANS DAY FORUM IN NEW YORK CITY

LSC hosted a Veterans Day Forum on November 11 at New York University School of Law highlighting how legal aid can remove barriers to veterans’ well-being and financial stability. Currently, nearly 1.8 million veterans are eligible for LSC-funded legal services.

New York University Law Dean Trevor Morrison delivered opening remarks. He was joined by Representative Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8), who said that a country's greatness lies not in its military might, but in how in it treats those lost and left behind. ABA President Judy Perry Martinez and Abdiel Joseph, General Managing Partner and Financial Advisor for the Promenade Group, also provided remarks. LSC Board Chair John G. Levi announced the launch of a national taskforce devoted to the legal needs of veterans. 

The first panel, “How Corporate Counsel and Civil Legal Services Organizations' Pro Bono Projects Serve Veterans,” explored the ways pro bono efforts can ensure that veterans receive the legal help they need. The panelists included Nicole M. Perez, Managing Attorney, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles; Lisa Rafferty, Vice President, Legal Affairs, Fox Television Stations, LLC; Dao Sun, Senior Staff Attorney, Legal Services New York City; and Peter Beshar, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Marsh & McLennan Companies. LSC President Jim Sandman moderated the discussion.

The next panel, “Medical Legal Partnerships Operating in Veterans Affairs' Medical Centers” focused on how attorneys embedded in healthcare facilities can address and prevent civil legal problems that affect veterans’ health. The panelists included Dr. Marion Eakin, Mental Health Clinic Director, New York Harbor Healthcare System, and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine; Cindy Johnson, Deputy Director, Connecticut Veterans Legal Center; Samantha Kubek, Staff Attorney, LegalHealth Division, New York Legal Assistance Group; and Dr. Jack Tsai, Ph.D., Research Director, National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Director, Yale Division of Mental Health Services and Treatment Outcomes Research Among Veterans. LSC Board Member Abigail Lawlis Kuzma served as moderator.

The final panel, “Innovative Civil Legal Services Programs and Projects Serving Veterans,” highlighted new strategies for helping military families and veterans. The panelists included Nicole Massey, Veterans Attorney, Land of Lincoln Legal Aid; Maureen Siedor, Legal Director, Swords to Plowshares; and Esther Leibfarth, Staff Attorney, Lawyers Serving Warriors, National Veterans Legal Services Program. LSC’s Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel Ronald Flagg moderated the discussion.

REP. PAYNE JOINS LEADERS FROM LEGAL AID AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMUNITIES FOR LSC DISASTER TASK FORCE EVENT

LSC's Disaster Task Force held an event marking the release of its report on November 12 at the New York City Emergency Management Department in Brooklyn. The report offers recommendations on how legal services providers can collaborate with outside partners to help vulnerable communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

Representative Donald M. Payne Jr. (NJ-10), Chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, spoke at the event. He was joined by LSC Board Chair John G. Levi and NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Deanne Criswell. Disaster Task Force Co-Chairs Jonathan Lippman, former Chief Judge of New York and currently of counsel for Latham & Watkins LLP, and LSC Vice Chair Father Pius Pietrzyk also spoke. They were joined by Robert Malionek, a partner at Latham & Watkins. Latham served as pro bono counsel to the task force and provided financial support.

Daniel Aldrich, professor of political science and Director of the Security and Resilience Studies Program at Northeastern University, presented “Why Social Infrastructure Is Critical in Crisis.” Professor Aldrich is a nationally recognized expert on disaster and resilience. He has published five books and more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and appears frequently on popular media outlets.

Following Professor Aldrich’s presentation, experts from the legal services and emergency management communities took part in a panel discussion on the importance of relationship-building in disaster response. The panelists included Joe Bruno, Former Commissioner, NYC Emergency Management; Greg Forrester, President & CEO, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster; Colonel Brian Hastings, Director, Alabama Emergency Management Agency; Leslie Powell-Boudreaux, Executive Director, Legal Services of North Florida; Pamela Roychaudhury, Managing Attorney, Legal Aid of Western Missouri; and Mark Sloan, Coordinator, Homeland Security & Emergency Management, Harris County, Texas.

LSC PRESIDENT JIM SANDMAN FEATURED ON BOB AMBROGI'S PODCAST

LSC BOARD CHAIR JOHN G. LEVI HIGHLIGHTS LSC'S ROLE IN PROMOTING LEGAL TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION

For more coverage on the Innovations in Technology Conference, stay tuned for the next issue of LSC's Tech Download.

Sign-up for the e-newsletter here. 

NEWS FROM THE FIELD

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND FCC CHAIR JOIN LSC FOR VIRTUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE FORUM

Reps. Bill Foster (IL-11), Joe Kennedy III (MA-4) and Federal Communications Commission Chair Ajit Pai joined LSC on October 15 for a virtual forum on ways of expanding access to justice for low-income Americans amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

LSC Board Chair John G. Levi delivered welcoming remarks and Vice Chair Father Pius Pietrzyk interviewed Chris Arnade, author of "Dignity: Seeking Respect in Back Row America." His work looks at the resilience of what he calls "America''s Back Row"-those who lack the credentials and advantages to get ahead. 

Following that, experts from business and law discussed how the "digital divide" results in unequal access to justice and what solutions exist for bridging this gap. The panelists included Geoffrey C. Blackwell, Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel, AMERIND; Larry Irving, President and CEO, The Irving Group; former Colorado Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Love Kourlis, Founding Executive Director, Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System; FCC Chair Pai; and Kate White, Access to Services Manager and Attorney, Legal Aid of West Virginia's Charleston Office.

Reps. Kennedy and Foster both shared why access to justice is so important to their constituents. Daniel E. Kimble, Director of the West Virginia Access to Justice Commission, and Dean John E. Taylor, West Virginia University College of Law, also provided remarks during the forum. 

A second panel focused on the challenges of providing legal services during COVID-19 to individuals affected by opioid use disorder. Civil legal issues frequently arise for the more than two million Americans suffering from these disorders and their families. These include problems related to child support and custody, child abuse and neglect, guardianship, domestic violence, housing, health benefits and employment. The panelists included Brandon George, Director, Indiana Addiction Issues Coalition; Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush; Lois Vance, MAT Clinic Manager, Cabin Creek Health Clinic; and Brendan Wood, Equal Justice Fellow, Legal Aid of West Virginia. 

LSC Board Member Frank Neuner provided closing remarks for the forum.

LSC AWARDS NEARLY $4 MILLION IN TECHNOLOGY GRANTS

In October, LSC announced that it was awarding Technology Initiative Grants (TIG) to 24 legal services organizations totaling $3,941,298. The TIG program funds technology projects that provide greater access to high-quality legal assistance and information for low-income Americans.

Many Members of Congress congratulated legal aid organizations in their districts for receiving TIG funding.

"Kansans who are struggling financially have a great advocate in Kansas Legal Services, and this grant will help low-income Kansans have greater access to information and resources to navigate complicated and challenging legal systems," said Sen. Jerry Moran (KS), Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. 

"I am thrilled that Legal Services of Alabama was awarded the Technology Initiative Grant that will allow them to expand access to their legal services throughout Alabama," said Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-7). "Technology is vital in providing high quality legal counseling in today''s world. Legal Services of Alabama plays a crucial role in providing free civil legal aid for Alabamians in need. This grant will provide critical resources to increase their outreach in helping low-income people resolve their legal problems."

Among the funded initiatives are several projects that will improve organizations' online self-help resources. Several organizations will use TIG funding to create more intuitive, mobile-first websites. Other projects will bolster existing case management and online intake systems to allow legal services providers to more effectively serve clients.

LSC RELEASES PODCAST EPISODE ON COVID-19 AND THE COURTS

LSC RELEASES REPORT SHOWING TRENDS IN LEGAL AID 

NEW RESOURCE FOR LSC GRANTEES ANNOUNCED

NEWS FROM THE FIELD

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS JOIN LEGAL COMMUNITY FOR COVID-19 VIRTUAL BRIEFINGS

The coronavirus pandemic has presented unique challenges for the entire legal system and for access to justice. Members of Congress, legal aid leaders and other experts joined LSC for two virtual briefings on the role of legal aid in helping families and individuals affected by COVID-19. 

The COVID-19 Health Crisis, Civil Legal Needs and State Courts 

LSC''s April 20 briefing focused broadly on the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on low-income Americans' legal needs.

Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan, Representative Joe Kennedy III (MA-4) and Representative Fred Upton (MI-6) delivered remarks on the challenges their constituents are facing. They were joined by ABA President Judy Perry Martinez who shared updates on the ABA's COVID-19 Task Force. LSC Chair John Levi spoke about the emerging civil legal aid crisis that LSC and its grantees are bracing for and explained how under-funded civil legal aid organizations are already struggling to meet their client's needs. 

The briefing featured two panels. First, executive directors of legal aid organizations in Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, New York and Washington state took part in a moderated conversation about The COVID-19 Health Crisis' Effect on Legal Services Organizations and Their Clients. The panelists included Ashley Lowe, Chief Executive Officer, Lakeshore Legal Aid; Raun Rasmussen, Executive Director, Legal Services NYC; C?sar Torres, Executive Director, Northwest Justice Project; Laura Tuggle, Executive Director, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corporation; and Monica Vigues-Pitan, Executive Director, Legal Services Miami.

Following that discussion, four state supreme court chief justices participated in a panel on The COVID-19 Health Crisis' Effect on State Courts and Access to Justice. The panelists were Chief Justice Jeffrey Bivins, Supreme Court of Tennessee; Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye, Supreme Court of California; Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, Supreme Court of Texas and President of the Conference of Chief Justices; and Chief Justice Bridget McCormack, Michigan Supreme Court. 

Merck CEO Ken Frazier, co-chair of LSC's Leaders Council, delivered closing remarks, thanking the speakers for sharing their perspectives. 

"They are shining a light on the alarming fact that COVID-19 is not just a public health crisis, not just
an economic crisis, but a serious crisis for our justice system," Frazier said. 

LSC AWARDS COVID-19 RELIEF GRANTS

In April, LSC awarded the $50 million it received in the CARES Act to legal services providers who are helping low-income clients facing job loss, evictions, domestic violence and other problems stemming from the pandemic. 

LSC awarded $2.4 million for Telework Capacity Grants to 126 of its grantees. This funding will support new equipment, services and related expenses needed for legal services organizations to improve or expand telework capabilities to better serve low-income populations. LSC is also providing technical assistance to many grantees to enhance their ability to work and provide services remotely.

LSC awarded more than $47 million to its grantees to address the critical civil legal needs confronting many low-income families. In order to allocate these funds to the areas of the country most affected by COVID-19, LSC used unemployment insurance data in conjunction with the poverty-population data to distribute funds to all 132 grantees. 

"We are grateful that Congress has recognized that COVID-19 is dramatically increasing the life-altering civil legal needs faced by low income Americans and that legal aid can make a meaningful difference in addressing those needs," said LSC President Ron Flagg. "The dramatic spike in legal needs caused by COVID-19 coupled with precipitous declines in state and local funding underscore the need for additional emergency federal funding for legal aid."

LSC''s request for $50 million in additional COVID-19 relief funding was included in the HEROES Act which passed the House on May 15.

LSC LAUNCHES WEBPAGE ON COVID-19 CHALLENGES

LSC DISASTER TASK FORCE HOLDS EVENT IN NEW ORLEANS TO MARK RELEASE OF REPORT

NEWS FROM THE FIELD

LSC VETERANS TASK FORCE HOLDS INAUGURAL FIELD HEARING

Rep. Greg Steube (FL-17) and leaders from law, health care and veterans services joined LSC on September 21 for the inaugural field hearing of the LSC Veterans Task Force. 

The Task Force is working to increase access to justice for veterans. Civil legal problems - from threatened evictions to other-than-honorable discharges from the military - are often the greatest obstacles to a veteran's health, housing, and productivity. In 2017, 71% of households with veterans or other military personnel reported experiencing a civil legal problem in the past year.

The virtual field hearing explored how legal aid can remove these legal barriers to veterans' well-being and financial stability. 

LSC Board Chair John G. Levi; LSC Board Member, Task Force Co-Chair John G. Malcolm; and DLA Piper Pro Bono Partner Lisa Dewey offered opening remarks. DLA Piper is providing financial and logistical support to the Task Force. Rep. Steube, a veteran himself, shared his thoughts on the importance of access to justice for the country's veterans.

"The very last thing veterans should worry about is access to basic legal services," said Rep. Steube. He noted that veterans "deserve the best representation that our country can provide."

The first panel, "Putting It All Together: How Coordinated Services Improve Outcomes for Veterans Experiencing Challenges," examined how the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center and the VA Connecticut's Errera Community Care Center effectively partner to improve outcomes for veterans receiving treatment. 

Leaders from legal services and veterans organizations joined the second panel, "Building Strong Community Networks for Veterans." Panelists discussed community network models to identify best practices for connecting veterans to the services they need. 

The final panel, "Separating from the Military and the Policy Implications of 'Bad Paper,'" considered how discharge classification decisions affect veterans' access to Veterans Affairs and other benefits. 

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND BUSINESS AND LEGAL AID LEADERS JOIN LSC FOR ACCESS TO JUSTICE FORUM

LSC LAUNCHES ACCESS TO JUSTICE PODCAST

LSC recently launched Talk Justice, a new podcast featuring leaders from the legal community, business and government exploring key aspects of access to justice.

"LSC's Podcast, Talk Justice, will highlight the reforms and innovations we need to improve access to justice in America," said LSC President Ron Flagg. "Our podcast will showcase leaders from government, law, technology, and business who are taking concrete steps today to make real America's promise of equal justice under law."

In the inaugural episode of Talk Justice, legal technology experts discussed how portals, no-code automation, online classrooms and other developments are expanding and improving pro bono efforts. 

For the second episode, Jim Sandman, LSC President Emeritus, was joined by leading jurists from two states in the vanguard of regulatory reform: Utah Supreme Court Justice Constandinos "Deno" Himonas and Arizona Supreme Court Vice Chief Justice Ann A. Scott Timmer. The discussion on regulatory reform efforts also included Upsolve Co-Founder Rohan Pavuluri and William Henderson, Professor of Law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law and the editor of Legal Evolution

An upcoming Talk Justice episode will feature LSC President Ron Flagg discussing the importance of civil legal aid with the co-founders of the bipartisan Congressional Access to Civil Legal Services Caucus, Reps. Susan Brooks (IN-5) and Joe Kennedy (MA-4). 

Talk Justice episodes are available on Spotify, Apple, iHeartRadio and other popular podcast platforms. The podcast is sponsored by LSC's Leaders Council.

LSC AWARDS MORE THAN $4 MILLION TO STRENGTHEN PRO BONO

In August, LSC announced that 19 legal aid organizations would be receiving Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants totaling $4,347,185 to expand pro bono legal services to low-income individuals.

Many of the projects seek to remove barriers to success facing low-income Americans. Southeast Louisiana Legal Services' project will help low-income tenants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic who experience security deposit theft.  

Pro bono funding for Bay Area Legal Services will allow the organization to better meet the legal needs of disaster survivors in the Tampa Bay region. Georgia Legal Services Program will use its grant to reach low-income individuals living in rural areas of the state who otherwise have limited access to legal help.

Several of the funded projects will focus on increasing the recruitment and training of pro bono attorneys and more effectively working with existing partners. For example, Legal Services Vermont will use its grant to build a coordinated and centralized infrastructure for statewide pro bono efforts.

NEWS FROM THE FIELD

• Court Technology
• COVID-19 Response and Recovery
• Data
• Intake, Triage, Hotlines
• Internal Operations
• IT Systems

• Legal Design/Regulatory Reform/Innovations
• Remote Service Delivery
• Self-Represented Litigants/Self-Help
• Technology for Advocates
• Websites/Online Tools

• January 11, 2021: (CLE Day) 1:00 - 5:00 pm EST
• January 12, 2021: (Day 1) 12:30 - 5:00 pm EST
• January 13, 2021: (Day 2) 12:30 - 5:00 pm EST
• January 14, 2021: (Day 3) 12:30 - 5:00 pm EST
   

EVICTED AUTHOR MATTHEW DESMOND AND REP. TOM EMMER JOIN LSC FOR COVID-19 VIRTUAL BRIEFING ON EVICTIONS

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Matthew Desmond and Rep. Tom Emmer (MN-6) joined leaders from legal aid organizations for a virtual briefing on evictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic on June 22. The briefing explored the importance of civil legal aid for families vulnerable to housing loss due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Matthew Desmond, Maurice P. During Professor of Sociology at Princeton University and author of Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, joined LSC President Ron Flagg to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to spark an unprecedented spike of evictions across the country. 

"Access to full legal counsel helps your case, it helps you immensely," Desmond explained, citing research across the country that shows the difference access to an attorney makes for individuals and communities.   
 
He added: "Studies that have looked at the effect of [having] a lawyer in Massachusetts, in New York, Philadelphia and other cities have found that this kind of upstream intervention is much cheaper than the downstream consequences of eviction, especially in terms of shelter costs and homelessness services and additional kinds of fallout of eviction."

Rep. Emmer and LSC Board Chair John G. Levi also offered remarks on the housing crisis.

"Over the past few months, members of our communities have faced financial and legal hurdles like never before," Rep. Emmer said. "This COVID-19 crisis has caused families to lose the income that they depend on. Households across our country have gone from financially stable to seemingly insecure overnight."

He thanked the legal aid community for its efforts on behalf of vulnerable communities: "Americans are in desperate need of advocacy, for lawyers like you who fight every day to keep these families from being uprooted and displaced."

LSC Vice President for Grants Management Lynn Jennings moderated a discussion with civil legal providers and a judge who are bracing for a surge in eviction rates. The speakers included Annamarie Johnson, Executive Director, Nevada Legal Services; Edward Josephson, Director of Litigation and Housing, Legal Service NYC; Judge Sergio L. De Leon, Justice of the Peace Court 5, Tarrant County, Texas; and Maria Thomas-Jones, Executive Director, Legal Aid of Northwest Texas.

LSC RECEIVES LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM BUSINESS LEADERS

In June, corporate general counsel from 204 companies sent a letter to the House and Senate appropriations committees supporting funding for LSC. The companies represented include Amazon, Delta Air Lines, Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Target Corporation and Verizon Communications.

"Equal access to justice is a foundational promise of our country and a bulwark against severe hardship for low-income Americans, particularly in times of national crisis," it states. 

The letter goes on to explain civil legal aid''s importance in helping people protect their health, home, income and family. This help is particularly important amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

LSC previously received letters of support for its FY 2021 budget request from the Conference of Chief Justices, the ABA and leaders representing law firms in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  

LAW STUDENTS HELP RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE RURAL SUMMER LEGAL CORPS PROGRAM

LSC BOARD MEMBER LAURIE MIKVA RECEIVES AWARD

NEWS FROM THE FIELD